Conservation Bulletin Issue 59
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A BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT IssueCHAPTER 59:Autumn 2008 HEAD Issue 59: Autumn 2008 Conservation bulletin 2 Editorial 3 Continuity and Innovation The Old and the New 3 The pace of change 6 Continuity and context 9 Innovation, context and congruity 11 The new in harmony with the old 14 New Understanding 14 Conservation Principles 16 The setting of historic assets 18 Seeing the history in the view 21 The Curator’s Story 21 New English Heritage buildings in historic places 23 Building for tomorrow’s visitors 26 Shock of the New (and Nearly New) 26 Post-war designation: waiting for the dust to settle? 28 Post-war designation: some recent case studies 30 Robin Hood Gardens 31 St Pancras 34 Birmingham’s Bull Ring 36 The Rotunda, Birmingham 38 The Angel of the North 41 Constructive Conservation in Practice 42 News Protecting the past and championing innovative change have for too 44 The National long seemed at implacable odds. At last we are realising that the old Monuments Record and the new can co-exist in creative harmony. 46 Legal Developments 47 New Publications Originally designed as a celebration of Victorian achievement, William Barlow’s magnificent St Pancras station has been brilliantly re-invented to meet the needs of the 21st century. Working in close partnership, English Heritage and London and Continental Railways have delivered a world-class station that brings together the very best of the old and the new. Paul Childs/Spheroview © Union Railways (North) Issue 59: Autumn 2008 | Conservation bulletin | 1 Editorial: Urban Old and New Change is the only constant.We experience it most insistently in our urban lives (which is why we cling to the myth of the unchanging countryside). This issue of Conservation Bulletin considers how society deals with urban change and how the historic-environment sector in turn responds to that change. Urban renewal need not mean marked change. processes that inform decision-making about It can, for political and emotional reasons, mean the impact of new proposals. like-for-like replacement – as the reconstruction The quality of these processes may be of much of central Europe after the Second World illuminated by looking at actual buildings and War shows. Philip Davies’ article in Conservation developments and what they tell us about how Bulletin 56 describes a very similar set of decisions society procures, views and finally judges them. taken in the Inner Temple in London. Some are procured by organisations that are, by Marked change, however, is often a require- definition, committed to the best management ment.When responding to regal demand or the of the historic environment. So we look at how aspiration of the cottage owner, when meeting English Heritage itself, the National Trust and the fashionable requirements of Beau Brummel others fulfil this role with regard to their own or Urban Splash, or when efficiently delivering developments. a social necessity,such as better housing – a However, most buildings are procured by statement is often what is wanted. ordinary organisations driven by the usual mix The statement is made in the context of an of economic, commercial, practical and image- existing urban environment that is, per se, part building concerns and their cases and experience of the historic environment. In today’s terms, are varied and illuminating – as is the fate of what significant parts will be designated with the they build.The quantum of change has persisted result that English Heritage often becomes and relatively new buildings have come up for statutorily involved. renewal.This, in turn has resulted in calls for Response to context has over the centuries their designation. So before turning to look at covered the whole imaginable spectrum. Some particular cases, we need to consider how the contexts are treated as sacrosanct (see Simon issue of designation is approached.The final Thurley,p 11) others as slums (Chris Smith on section, therefore, begins with two articles the pace of change, p 3). Some contexts are considering, first, the nature and politics of imaginatively understood to provide the essence post-Second World War designation and then how of the new design while others – often of equal that relates to public esteem of the nearly new. quality – are frankly ignored. The issue concludes with a number of To deepen our understanding of these examples from around the country that contribute processes and the basis on which the historic particular elements to our understanding of this environment sector engages with the planning hugely important national discussion. I system, this issue of Conservation Bulletin first Chris Smith addresses the overarching question of continuity Planning and Development Director (West ), versus innovation.We then turn to the analytical English Heritage Conservation Bulletin is published three times a year by English Heritage and circulated free of charge to more than 15,000 conservation specialists, opinion-formers and decision-makers. Its purpose is to communicate new ideas and advice to everyone concerned with the understanding, management and public enjoyment of England’s rich and diverse historic environment. When you have finished with this copy of Conservation Bulletin, do please pass it on. And if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or to change your current subscription details, just contact us on 020 7973 3253 or at [email protected]. 2 | Conservation bulletin | Issue 59: Autumn 2008 Continuity and Innovation Change is a natural ingredient of every human settlement.The challenge is to ensure that its scale and form are appropriate to the people it serves. The debate in England about the management those developments which, in striking a balance of change has often been ill-tempered. Some between continuity and innovation, will afford a commentators have used words close to libel successful future to our towns and cities. I and description close to caricature, and have done so in the consciously heightened manner of campaigners. Others have meant every word. The pace of change in post-Second In this first section contributors look to step aside World War England from all that and to consider the underlying urban dynamic, the range of potential philosphical Chris Smith responses to that dynamic, and the case for Planning and Development Director (West), managerial intervention. Chris Smith and Hank English Heritage Dittmar both note that the pace of change The large majority of changes to places are fundamentally affects how we respond to it but incremental. For every intervention of the radical also how we must accommodate its necessary and nature and huge scale that Baron Hausmann vital variety.Dittmar’s and Richard McCormac’s imposed on Paris there are hundreds of lesser elegant theses remind us that, at the civilised heart changes.The slighting of castles and the towns of the debate, there is room for agreement on around them in the Civil War, the demolition or the importance of continuity,context and a radical alteration of the abbeys and monasteries thoughtful dialogue with the past, while there and their estates at the Dissolution – these are is ample scope for disagreement about how atypical. the equally necessary innovation may best be More typical is the process revealed by map expressed. Simon Thurley puts all this in a regression in most towns in most centuries.The historic and then a current context, and in the space around the cross is cleared to allow more latter proposes a disinterested way of identifying space for a market or traffic.The market is slowly encroached upon; some encroachments are later removed.The merchants first build and then move out from their grand houses and, over the course of centuries, some are re-used, coming to house businesses or hotels, others are replaced.A road is widened and the corner plots combined to accommodate a show palazzo for the newly successful bank.A new quarter is begun, but is left incomplete during a recession; only ever part completed it descends into unfashionable dowdiness. Many of these changes are locally very significant, but the impact can be borne and, over time absorbed.Time is the critical agent in the process of change management. The faithful Wider or faster change is far more of a reconstruction of challenge to communities – to their ability to the Frauenkirche in Dresden shows tolerate disruption while retaining a coherent how strongly sense of self and place as well as to their ability to individual buildings adopt the new place.This is one clear motive are valued and how behind the frequent phenomenon of restoration long the emotional following war.The recent completion of the attachment can adhere. repair of the Frauenkirche in Dresden shows how Source:Wikimedia/Hans strongly individual buildings are valued and how Peter Schaefer long the emotional attachment can adhere. Issue 59: Autumn 2008 | Conservation bulletin | 3 THE OLD AND THE NEW The huge restorations of Krakow and Prague exemplify not only a will to show the destroyer that their evil work can and will be undone but that it is possible to rediscover a lost place and thus heal deeper social and psychological hurt with the balm of the familiar and cherished scene. After the Second World War, it was not the original response of the English authorities and property professionals to lay great weight on such considerations (although the alert reader will know that the phrase in question – ‘the familiar and cherished scene’ – was to be adopted by the end of the second post-war decade). During those two decades, England was to undergo change at a pace that was remarkable in any one place but quite unprecedented in its impact across the country.With huge, now almost incredible, optimism town planners and architects were commissioned by town clerks and planning plans were left to stand in the way of road- Post-war economic committees to create a vision for new cities widening or similar proposals during decades recovery allowed wherever war damage was extensive at the very of indecision and were thus blighted and doomed massive investment moment when success was least certain.